House boat

A Boat in the Grampians - Nature Lovers Eco-retreat

Photo gallery for A Boat in the Grampians - Nature Lovers Eco-retreat

Atmospheric cliff face, from the paddock next to the boat shed
Property grounds
Wonderfull conservatory for lounging with a book or doing a spot of yoga
The fire pit can also be used as a table, as seen in this picture
Kitchen with German handmade furniture

Reviews

10 out of 10
Exceptional
3 bedrooms1 bathroomSleeps 10

Popular amenities

  • Parking available
  • Fireplace
  • Kitchen
  • Barbecue grill
  • Outdoor space

Explore the area

Map
Cavendish, VIC
  • Grampians National Park
    ‪1 min walk‬
  • Dunkeld Racecourse
    ‪29 min drive‬
  • Hamilton Golf Club
    ‪37 min drive‬
  • Hamilton, VIC (HLT)
    ‪30 min drive‬

Rooms & beds

3 bedrooms (sleeps 10)

Bedroom 1

1 Queen Bed

Bedroom 2

2 Single Beds and 1 Double Bed

Bedroom 3

1 Double Bed and 2 Single Beds

1 bathroom

Bathroom 1

Toilet · Shower only

Spaces

Porch or lanai
Kitchen
Outdoor play area
Garden
Dining Area

About this property

A Boat in the Grampians - Nature Lovers Eco-retreat

The 'Shannon,' - A Boat in the Grampians - is a swashbuckling yacht, nestled under the roof of the farm hay shed. All the romance of an ocean going boat, minus the sea-sickness and storms - KIDS ABSOLUTELY LOVE IT! (for safety reasons if kids are under 6yrs we ask you to let us know before booking) Every day kangaroos graze around the boat and emus often visit. We invite those who has a deep passion and respect for nature to come and stay for an unforgettable glamping experience! PLEASE read everything below - before booking!

THE BOAT
We sailed the lovely yacht 'Shannon,' from Fiji to Australia, through the tail of cyclone Solo and a force ten storm between New Caledonia and Coffs Harbour. Now YOU can have the pleasure of staying on the quaint old boat but without fear of drowning! However...the main rule remains the same on land as it did on water, 'Don't Fall Off the Boat!'
In summer, your visit could happen to fall on one of the occasional days of 38 plus degrees. You'll need to be prepared to cope without air conditioning. There are fans above each bed in the boat and one fan in the tent.
There's a great airy space next to the boat for rainy day play, a beautiful kitchen and a lounge area with a fire. This space is closed in on 3 sides and open to the east where the boat forms a partial windbreak, although there can still be a breeze inside the kitchen/lounge area. The awesome conservatory, however, is a very protected four walled room - THE place to enjoy a coffee on a cool day. The bell tent, which is also tucked under the boat shed and sleeps 4, is available for groups of more than 6 people. If your group is 6 or less you can hire the bell tent for an additional $100 per night.
THE LAND
Sandstone cliffs, forest and grassy paddocks surround the hay-shed and boat.
Our farming property called, 'Inanna,' is a wonderful place for nature immersion, bird and wildlife spotting. How many baby kangaroos and wedge tail eagles can you spot? Watch the colours change throughout the day on the sandstone escarpment and treat yourself to a well earned digital detox. There is no wi-fi and very limited mobile coverage at 'Inanna.' It's really all about the nature and peacefulness.
Snuggle up beside the fire or in the hammock with a book and a complementary bottle of wine, enjoy a game of table tennis, or a board game, a jigsaw puzzle, a ball game in the paddock and the sunset on the cliffs.
On a hot day you can enjoy 'Signore Wallaby's Grotto,' which is a spacious shady green bower, with a large enamel cold water bath and ample room to lie on a picnic rug and read or sleep. A favorite night-time experience is observing the stars whilst lying on a blanket in the paddock!

We provide all bedding and towels. The kitchen is stocked with tea, plunger coffee, long life milk for cuppas, salt, pepper and olive oil. All the necessary kitchen utensils, pots, pans, cutlery and crockery are provided. There are another set of pots and pans for cooking on the indoor fire-pit, a gas BBQ, a pizza oven (all wood provided) There are two toasting frames to make toast on the 4 burner gas stove.

To make your stay even more enjoyable we offer a number of engaging activities and products for you to purchase:

- Bush Tucker and Edible Weeds Walk and Talk
- An Introduction to Animal Tracking
- Collaborative Art for the Whole Family
- Amazing Fireside Stories with World Adventurer, Jon Muir
- Wonderful Fireside Stories with Suzan Muir, runner up of Alone Australia, Season 2
- Seasonal organic eggs
- Books by us: 'Alone across Australia,' for adults
'Seraphine, Terror of the Desert,' for kids
- DVDs by us: 'Alone Across Australia,' PG
'Suzy and the Simple Man,' PG

Inanna is a great base from which to explore numerous magnificent walks in the Grampians National Park, local wineries and the affordable Bunyip Hotel, which prides itself on paddock to plate cuisine.

VERY SPECIAL, ECO-FRIENDLY FEATURES OF 'A BOAT IN THE GRAMPIANS' Please familiarise yourself with these as not everyone has the capacity to live this simply.
- Wood fired pizza oven
- Four burner gas stove top and the fire for cooking during fire safe weather.
-Water for the kitchen sink needs to be heated on either the fire or the gas stove.
- Small fridge which holds about 10 litres.
-The shower is a camp solar heated bag or a canvas shower bag that you can fill with hot water. The shower area is a lovely, private, tropical oasis.
- The boat cabin has fly screens on all openings for an insect free sleeping experience. In the kitchen and bathroom area however you may encounter some insects - are you O.K with this? Generally there are very few night time insects.
- Electrics - 12 volt solar system. The boat has five cabin lights, three bunk lights and a fan in the private double bed. The kitchen area is lit by a portable lantern. There is a charging station for mobile phones in the boat. There is no 240 volt mains power so you won't be able to charge other electrical devices. Computers will need to run off their own battery power.
- Fire wood comes from the fallen trees on the land here and is a renewable resource which we collect and provide for you.
-.We don't do rubbish or recycling collection here as we are outside of the council rubbish and recycling pickup. Guests are kindly requested to take their rubbish and recycling with them. We do however have a compost bucket for food scraps and bones can be disposed of in the fire.

Wherever possible, we try and reduce our carbon outputs and encourage our guests to do the same . We plant a native tree for every booking in an attempt to sequester the carbon released by the use of the Airbnb.

We trust that you will enjoy your eco-friendly experience with us and return home feeling deeply rested, nurtured and inspired.

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Amenities

Kitchen
Outdoor space
Parking available
Barbecue grill
Fireplace

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House Rules

Check in after 4:00 PM
Check out before 11:00 AM
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Children

Children allowed: ages 0–17
Children need to be 6 years or older.
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Events

No events allowed
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Pets

No pets allowed
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Smoking

Smoking is not permitted
No smoking on the land

Important information

You need to know

Extra-person charges may apply and vary depending on property policy
Government-issued photo identification and a credit card, debit card or cash deposit may be required at check-in for incidental charges
Special requests are subject to availability upon check-in and may incur additional charges; special requests cannot be guaranteed
On-site parties or group events are strictly prohibited
This property uses eco-friendly cleaning products
Host has indicated that there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property
Host has not indicated whether there is a smoke detector on the property
Safety features at this property include a fire extinguisher and a first aid kit

About the area

Cavendish

Located in Cavendish, this houseboat is in a rural area and on a lake. The area's natural beauty can be seen at Grampians National Park and Geerak Bushland Reserve, while Nerissa Major's Art Studio and Ros McArthur Art Studio are cultural highlights.
Map
Cavendish, VIC

What's nearby

  • Grampians National Park - 1 min walk - 0.0 km
  • Nerissa Major's Art Studio - 27 min drive - 31.3 km
  • Dunkeld Visitor Information Centre - 27 min drive - 31.3 km
  • Dunkeld Racecourse - 29 min drive - 32.7 km
  • Hamilton Golf Club - 37 min drive - 46.5 km

Frequently asked questions

Is A Boat in the Grampians - Nature Lovers Eco-retreat pet-friendly?

No, pets are not allowed at this property.

What time is check-in at A Boat in the Grampians - Nature Lovers Eco-retreat?

Check-in begins at 4:00 PM.

What time is check-out at A Boat in the Grampians - Nature Lovers Eco-retreat?

Checkout is at 11:00 AM.

Where is A Boat in the Grampians - Nature Lovers Eco-retreat located?

Situated on a lake, this houseboat is steps from Grampians National Park and 2.9 mi (4.7 km) from Geerak Bushland Reserve. Bryan Swamp Wildlife Reserve and Victoria Lagoon Wildlife Reserve are also within 12 miles (20 km).

Reviews

10

Exceptional

Reviews are presented in chronological order, subject to a moderation process, and verified unless otherwise labelled.
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Rating 10 - Excellent. 1 out of 1 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 0 out of 1 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 0 out of 1 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 0 out of 1 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 0 out of 1 reviews

10/10

Cleanliness

10/10

Amenities

10/10

Property conditions & facilities

10/10

Communication

Reviews

10/10 Excellent

Mana, Melbourne

Liked: Cleanliness, amenities, property conditions & facilities, communication
Very nice place away from everything. Quiet place and provides a chance to connect with nature. Perfect place to see lots of kangaroos at night. The boat was very cosy and enjoyed sitting around the fire at night.
Stayed 2 nights in Dec 2020

About the host

Your host

Host profile image

Jon Muir is Australia's most widely experienced adventure and Suzy Muir was runner up in Alone Australia, Season 2. We both have some incredible stories to tell about our experiences in wild places. You can learn more about us from our documentaries
https://www.sbs.com.au/ondemand/tv-program/suzy-and-the-simple-man/2327806531537
and
https://vimeo.com/ondemand/aloneacrossaustralia2
and from watching Alone Australia Season 2
https://www.sbs.com.au/ondemand/tv-series/alone-australia/season-2

Why they chose this property

We love the Grampians. for it's magnificent sandstone mountains, incredibly diverse plant and animal species including emus, kangaroos, echidnas and wedge Tail Eagles. The boat is nestled beneath the sandstone escarpment surrounded by the Grampians National park. You will have the entire accomodation to yourself. This includes the boat and the hay-shed, with the undercover kitchen and lounge with fire pit, as well as the conservatory. The conservatory and the boat are respectively the warmest and the coolest parts of the accomodation. The kitchen and lounge can be a little breezy but the fire pit on cool days is well protected from the wind. You will also have the lovely eco friendly shower and toilet area to yourself. As well as these grand spaces you can roam over half of the 150 acres of our land, 'Inanna,' and do a great 4km walk around the perimeter of the land which is part of the Grampians National Park.

What makes this property unique

Inanna is a great base from which to explore numerous magnificent walks in the Grampians National Park, local wineries and the affordable Bunyip Hotel, which prides itself on paddock to plate cuisine.

SPECIAL, ECO-FRIENDLY FEATURES OF 'A BOAT IN THE GRAMPIANS' - Please familiarise yourself with these as not everyone has the capacity to live this simply.
- Two burner gas stove top and the fire for cooking during fire safe weather.
- Small fridge which holds about 10 litres.
-The shower is a camp solar heated bag or a canvas shower bag that you can fill with hot water. The shower area is a lovely, private, tropical oasis.
- The toilet is a standard flush toilet
- The boat cabin has fly screens on all openings for an insect free sleeping experience. In the kitchen and bathroom area however you may encounter some insects - are you O.K with this? Generally there are very few night time insects.
- If it's suitable weather to light a fire you can purchase a wheel-barrow load of fire wood. The wood comes from the fallen trees on the land here and is a renewable resource.
Wherever possible, we try and reduce our carbon outputs and encourage our guests to do the same . We plant a native tree for every booking at Inanna, in an attempt to sequester the carbon released by the use of the Airbnb.

We trust that you will enjoy your eco-friendly experience with us and return home feeling deeply rested, nurtured and inspired.